Hinged ladder.



PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.4

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.R R ED .NDM N B O C n IE TGM I I Am H0 .1 L.

N0 MODEL.

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.be understood ings and the following description and claims.

I UNITED STATES Patented August 25, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TO GUSTAVE A. MILLER, OF

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

H lNGED LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,080, dated August 25, 1903; Application filed Mar0h,25,1903. Serial NO- 149,593- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ABNER F. CONNER, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Hinged Ladder; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like figures refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a hinged ladder adapted to be held securely at the joint when straight, to be readily folded for transportation, and to be converted into a step-ladder or platform-ladder, as desired.

The general nature of this invention will from the accompanying draw- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the central portion of my hinged ladder when straight, the ends being broken away. Fig. 2 shows the same folded with the ends broken away. Fig. 3 shows a three-section ladderconverted intoaplatform-ladder. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a two-section ladder formed into a step-ladder.

The drawings show in detail ladder-sections 10, which are connected by hinges formed of the straps 11, secured to the side bars of the ladder by the metal pieces 12, partially surrounding said side bars. The adjacent ends of said hinge-straps ll are provided with double and oppositely-turned heads 13, which have holes 14. therethrough. The corresponding heads of the abutting straps overlap and may be secured together by the bolts 15. When both sides of each pair of hinges are connected by said bolts 15, the ladder at its joint is held rigid and straight, as Fig. 1, making a very secure union. The bolts 15 in one pair of straps and the corresponding bolts in the other pair are removed,leaving the other pair of bolts in place when folding the ladder. The hinge when the ladder is folded is in the position shown in Fig. 2. The folded ladder is converted into a straight ladder by turning the sections in line with each other and replacing the removed bolts, so that said hinges become practically braces at the joint between said sections for holding the same rigid.

shown in The sort of ladder above described is converted into a step-ladder from the folded position in Fig. 2 by placing the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the two sections extending at an angle with relation to each other, as is found in the front and rear of an ordinary step-ladder. A bar 16, provided with a series of holes 17, is secured on each side to the upwardly-extending hinge-heads 18. This makes a very secure union,and the angle between the two sides of the step-ladder thus formed can be modified by placing the bolts 15 in other holes in the bar 16.

In Fig. 3 a three-section ladder is shown,

the middle. section 20 having a hinge-strap at each end that is connected with the sections 10 at each end. The angle between the'parts 10 and 20 may be regulated or maintained by the bar 16 at each corner of the ladder, as

shown. The ladder shown in Fig. 3 can be converted into a straight ladder by turning the two ends into line with the part 20 and securing the hinge-straps together, as shown in Fig. 1. This connection between the sections of the ladder gives to it a great adaptability to difierent sorts of work, and in whatever sort of work it is used the connection if straight, as in Fig. 1, or at an angle, as in Figs. 3 and 4.-, is very secure and safe, while it may be readily folded for transportation.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I 1. A ladder formed of two or more sections,

means for connecting the adjacent ends of said sections consisting of a hinge-strap secured at each side of each section of the ladder, said hinge-straps having each a pair of oppositely -turned heads at their adjacent ends, and means for pivotally connecting the corresponding heads together, the pivot on one side of each hinge connection being removable so that the ladder may be folded.

2'. A ladder formed of two or more sections, hinges at each of the joints between said sections with a pivotal connection at each side of the ladder, one of said pivotal connections being removable, and means for connecting the hinges on one side of the ladder so as to hold the sections of the ladder together fixedly at any desired angle.

3. A ladder formed of two or more sections, means for connecting the adjacent ends of said sections consisting of a hinge-strap secured at each side of each section of the ladder, said hinge-straps having each a pair of oppositely turned heads at their adjacent ends, means for pivotally connecting the corresponding heads together, the pivot on one side of each hinge connection being remov- IO able, and a perforated bar connecting the heads of said hinge straps when partially fo1ded,'snbstantia1ly as shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my'signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

ABNER F. CONNER. 

